“No more animal killing!” This plea was voiced by Pythagoras twenty-five centuries ago. There’s a world of difference, however, between prohibiting practices such as vivisection, bullfights, hunting and ritual slaughter and depriving ourselves of a good roast! Others prefer a total ban on the use of animals, even for food; this is the case of vegans whose number are on the rise.

Humans have always eaten animals, so why is there an increasing number of vegans? Apparently, to make us less violent, prevent cancer and save the planet. There is no denying that factory farms generate a great amount of pollution and suffering. But one should not forget that real livestock farming entails a relationship based on work and affection and its elimination would have serious social and environmental consequences.

With the help of a score of experts, this book explains the problems and benefits of using domestic animals. It enables us to see things clearly amidst all the noise surrounding “livestock farming”.